Stories about families losing their homes to foreclosure due to illness, job change, and other sudden factors are now the norm, unfortunately. They miss a payment or can't make full payments, are turned down for a "loan remodification," and foreclosure appears to be the only option. I encourage all our readers if they are facing this possibility, talk to an experienced real estate agent before you get too deep in the foreclosure process!

There are alternatives–maybe not the ones you'd choose–but you can avoid foreclosure and the bankruptcy/debt associated with it by selling the home. If you have the ability to catch up and pay off the past due on the loan, and stay in the house, that's the simplest solution. But if you can't pay off the debt when it's due to avoid the foreclosure, paying partial payments is unlikely to stall the process.

A sale or short sale is an unfortunate option, but likely best for the struggling owners. It often comes with "debt forgiveness" so you can avoid bankruptcy.

There's a lot to say about this topc, but the most important thing I wanted to stress is to call an experienced real estate agent and discuss your options. Banks may seem flexible, if you call, but the legal terms of your note are going to prevail. Don't wait until you have 30 days to be out of the house before taking action. Some agents specialize in short sales and they can be very helpful in discussing your options. Often if the bank has an offer on your property in hand, they will delay the foreclosure process.